What is a Commercial Bank?

Commercial banks are essential to the functioning of modern economies. 

They play a crucial role in facilitating transactions and providing financing to businesses of all sizes.

What is a Commercial Bank?

A commercial bank acts as a financial intermediary that provides various products and services to businesses, performing crucial liquidity functions within an economy. The bank generates fee income by accepting and managing deposits as a low-cost source of funds, and by offering credit facilities that generate interest income through credit creation. These two revenue sources are dominant, and the bank's clients span a wide range of the economy.

Business banks and commercial banks serve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together. For instance, clients who meet the middle-market criteria are served by commercial banks, while clients who fall under the "small business" category are served by business banks. Regardless of the segmentation, banks cater to businesses that rely on owner support, although this support decreases as a business grows in size and complexity, typically at or above the mid-market level.

Usually, commercial banks provide products and services to businesses with less complex needs than those catered to by corporate banking and investment banking specialists.

The Role of Commercial Banks in the Economy

Commercial banks play a significant role in the economy by providing essential services to consumers and businesses. In addition to managing deposits and providing loans, commercial banks also create capital and liquidity in the market, which drives economic growth.

One of the primary functions of commercial banks is to ensure liquidity by taking customer deposits and lending them out to others. This process creates credit, which leads to increased production, employment, and consumer spending, ultimately stimulating economic growth.

Due to their crucial role in the economy, commercial banks are heavily regulated by central banks in their respective countries or regions. For example, central banks may impose reserve requirements on commercial banks, requiring them to hold a certain percentage of consumer deposits as a cushion in case of sudden withdrawals.

Commercial Banks vs Investment Banks: Understanding the Differences

Both commercial and investment banks serve important functions in the economy, but they differ in the types of services they provide and the clients they serve. In the United States, these two branches of the banking industry were historically separated, but the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act in 1999 allowed for the creation of financial holding companies that offer both commercial and investment banking services.

Commercial banks primarily serve individual consumers and small businesses, offering services such as deposit accounts, loans, and credit cards. They act as financial intermediaries between depositors and borrowers, ensuring liquidity in the market.

In contrast, investment banks focus on providing banking services to large companies and institutional investors. They serve as intermediaries for these clients, offering underwriting services, M&A strategies, corporate restructuring, and brokerage services for institutional and high-net-worth individuals.

Investment banking clients include governments, hedge funds, financial institutions, pension funds, and large companies, while commercial banking clients tend to be individual consumers and small businesses.

The Bottom Line

Commercial banks are vital players in the economy, providing essential services such as managing deposits, offering loans, and creating liquidity. Through their role as financial intermediaries, commercial banks help to drive economic growth and stability, making them a crucial part of any financial system.

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